The Festival de Málaga, organised by Malaga City Council through Malaga Procultura, paid tribute this Friday to producer José Antonio Félez, a key figure in Spanish cinema, who recently passed away. The festival recognised his career and close ties to Andalusian cinema by presenting his family with a Special Biznaga Award, which was accepted by his widow, Cristina Sutherland.

The tribute took place after the screening of ‘El factor Pilgrim’ (The Pilgrim Factor), a film linked to the beginning of his career as a producer and shared with several of the filmmakers who participated in the event. Along with Cristina Sutherland and Alberto Félez, the producer's son, were the Director of the Festival de Málaga, Juan Antonio Vigar; the president of the Andalusian Film Academy, Marta Velasco; directors Santi Amodeo and Alberto Rodríguez; and actors Álex O’Dogherty, Enrico Vecchi, and Jöns Pappila, from the film's cast and crew, were present.

During his remarks, Juan Antonio Vigar recalled the role Félez played in launching that project and the relationship he maintained with Andalusian cinema ever since. “Two years after founding Tesela, he found this wonderful group and supported El factor Pilgrim in 2000. From then on, a very special relationship developed with Andalusian cinema,” he noted.

The festival director also emphasised the producer's constant support for the Festival, particularly recalling the screening of Azuloscurocasinegro in Málaga: “It was a very important film for us because it received many awards and also gave us a boost as a festival.”

Marta Velasco, on behalf of the Andalusian Film Academy, highlighted the producer's influence on the development of the audiovisual sector in the region: "For me, as a producer, José Antonio Félez has been one of the great role models and one of the pillars of the growth of Andalusian cinema and the talent we see flourishing today."

Cristina Sutherland thanked the festival for the gesture and reminisced about the beginnings she shared with many of those present. "We are here today because this was the start of José Antonio's journey and of this whole bunch of crazy people who are here," she recalled. The widow also emphasised the deep connection the producer maintained with Andalusian talent throughout his career. "José Antonio loved this festival and the talent here. Many people thought our production company was based in Andalusia, because our career as producers has been built thanks to all that talent," she added.

Founder of Atípica Films and Tesela P.C., Félez has left behind a filmography that includes some of the most influential films in recent Spanish cinema. Winner of the Goya Award for Best Film for La isla mínima,  he worked closely with filmmakers such as Alberto Rodríguez—who co-directed many of his productions with him—as well as Daniel Sánchez Arévalo (Azuloscurocasinegro, Gordos, Primos), Achero Mañas (El bola, Noviembre), Adolfo Aristarain (Roma), and Ángeles González-Sinde (Una palabra tuya), solidifying a career marked by his constant support for new voices and perspectives.